From the paper dated Tuesday, April 21, 2026
Hirata Cup 100th Anniversary Tournament Winner Cup to Tsuruoka East
On the 18th, the Hirata Cup 100th Anniversary Shonai High School Baseball Tournament was held at WaTaRaI Tsuruoka Dream Stadium in Tsuruoka City, with a total of three games in total: semifinals and finals. In the final, Tsuruoka Higashi and Chidokan will play against each other. Tsuruoka Higashi defeated Chidokan 12-2 (called in the 6th inning) and won the milestone tournament. Tsuruoka Higashi won the tournament for the first time in two years and for the 15th time (including when he was at Tsurusho Gakuen High School). At the closing ceremony after the game, All Japan Baseball Association President Masatake Yamanaka handed the sterling silver championship cup to Higashi Tsuruoka.
After the closing ceremony, Atsushi Hirata (86), honorary president of the tournament and grandson of Yoshiro Hirata, who founded the tournament, said, “I was happy to see the baseball players running around the field. I think Yoshiro was also happy. I hope everyone, including the players who contributed to the victory and those who hit home runs, will leave the 100th anniversary tournament as a memory.”
A sterling silver championship cup was presented to Higashi Tsuruoka.
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